5 Things You Need To Stop Doing At A Shopping Mall To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

The recent cases of COVID-19 in several malls in Klang Valley is concerning to say the least.

With the Sabah elections over and many people returning after campaigning (sometimes without masks or masks not worn properly) and voting, it is even more crucial for each of us to be vigilant to keep the next wave from happening.

This does not mean we have to stop going to malls.

We can’t put our lives on pause indefinitely especially when some of us work in malls or buildings attached to malls.

That being said, here are some of the things that we need to stop doing ASAP to prevent further spread of the virus.

1) Pretending to scan the QR code

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve seen people pretending to scan the MySejahtera or SELangkah Apps and giving false information when filling in the little books retailers have.

Ya’ll don’t even try to hide it and even snigger while being a completely irresponsible person. Very proud of putting yourselves and others in danger, is it?

Yes, we understand how annoying it is to scan at every shop that you go to, on top of the scanning at the main entrances, but don’t you think it’ll be a lot easier to do contact tracing when the authorities can pinpoint the high risk spots?

We’re sure the inconvenience of going through the SOPs won’t be nearly as bad as gasping for air or even dying of COVID-19. So, let’s cooperate, shall we?

2) Take off your face mask once you’re inside the mall

Let’s face it, wearing a mask isn’t exactly a comfortable thing to do but like it or not, it’s one of the most effective ways to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

It’s easy to forget to bring it along sometimes, so keep extras in your cars, bags and wherever convenient. While you’re at it, get a paper bag, plastic bag or one of those ingenious mask storage cases you can find online to keep your masks clean.

The Health Ministry has already released guidelines on storing face masks properly – which doesn’t include wearing it on your arms or under the chin yeah, by the way.

3) Not wearing your face mask properly

While wearing a mask is important, it’s also equally important to wear it properly.

Make sure that the mask covers your noses, there are no space on the edges and the bottom part is pulled all the way below the chin.

If you have a small face, opt for child-sized masks (there’s no shame in this) or tie a knot at the end of your mask cords for better fit.

There’s not much of a point to wearing masks if it’s not done properly, so let’s check you’ve done it right before heading out.

4) Queuing up to buy a limited edition item

Have you noticed the long queues at some retail outlets that sells either limited edition things, new product or even Insta-famous items?

A lot of time, it’s really hard to maintain physical distancing in these instances because of limited space.

Even when you try to maintain distance, there are always some who inch closer or walk in between the space you’ve created between you and the person in front.

At the end of the day, the question is, is that limited edition pair of sneakers you wish to get really worth risking your life for?

5) Not maintaining physical distancing

Speaking about physical distancing, can we please make sure not to get into crowded lifts and make sure there are at least three steps between each other when taking the escalator?

We mean, there are boxes and arrows drawn inside lifts for a reason. Not only that; there are also signs discouraging people from having conversation in such a small space with very little ventilation.

How hard is it to take the stairs or just wait for the next one?

When you’re taking the escalator, leave the space of three steps in between. Don’t be one of the annoying people who cut queue when you notice someone actually having the common sense to do that and get on the escalator first.

At a time like this, it pays to not be selfish and fight the virus as a society.
Stop taking things for granted

None of the things we’ve listed are news. We all know what we should be doing to keep COVID-19 at bay after battling with the virus for practically the whole of 2020.

We’re all sick and tired of the way things are and have started to get lax in following the SOPs. It doesn’t help that some people seem to get away scot-free after breaking the rules.

We get it.

However, COVID-19 don’t care about how tired we are of fighting it. So, we have no choice lah kan?

The next time you have to go to a mall, please be more mindful of the SOPs that needs to be followed. We can fight this together. RD